ANNUAL FESTIVAL EXTOLS MANY USES FOR HEMP

Hemp Filled De La Guerra Plaza Sunday Afternoon.

But there was no need to call the police -- it was all part of the third
annual Santa Barbara Hemp Festival.

The event featured speakers, music, a fashion show and various vendors
selling products made either entirely or partially from hemp.

Steve Levine, festival organizer, said the event is about educating people.

"We're giving people the opportunity to learn about cannabis. Most people
just think about marijuana," he said. "But there are hundreds of strains of
cannabis; the vast majority are drug-free."

Mr. Levine, who was wearing apparel made from hemp said, "If a person tried
to smoke the plant used to make this shirt, they would just get a headache."

Among the uses of hemp is food. According to literature handed out at the
festival, hemp seed is used for people and animal food. The meat of the
seed can be used to make hemp milk, cheese, ice cream and burgers.

The underlying message of the festival, said Mr. Levine, is simple: "We
want people to understand it's (hemp) good for the environment. It's a
godsend to the environment."

Among the speakers was Chris Conrad, an advocate for hemp. Wearing a
hemp-plant lei and a cannabis-print shirt, Mr. Conrad took the stage and
said hemp deserves equal rights.

"We're not asking for more rights for hemp, we're just asking for the same
rights as the other plants," he said. "Hemp deserves equal rights with all
other plants out there."

Vendors sold everything from shirts to pants to hats and bags.

Among the vendors was Larry Serbin, president of Hemp Traders. The company
specializes in the import and wholesale of hemp textiles.

When asked how people react to the hemp fabric, he said, "They kind of
think it's a joke, they sniff it. But then they realize it's pretty good
fabric."

Most people like hemp fabric for environmental reasons he said -- and once
they use it they find it's comfortable and appealing.

Hemp fabric, Mr. Serbin said, has many benefits over other textiles. In
addition to being the strongest natural textile, it is durable, softens
with use, and is resistant to ultraviolet light.

Since beginning his business in 1994, Mr. Serbin has seen an increase in
sales every year, he said.

"Quite frankly, people are very enthusiastic about it," he said.

Last year's event drew between 2,000 to 2,500 people. As for Sunday's
festival, Mr. Serbin said, "I'm hoping for that much if not more."